You know what hit me first about this place? The elevator ride up to the 11th floor – and I mean that in the best way possible. There’s something about ascending that high in the middle of Westminster that makes you feel like you’re escaping London’s chaos while staying right in the thick of it. The penthouse sits on Oxford Street, which honestly sounds like it could be a nightmare with all that shopping madness below, but Gilbert Court is tucked just enough off the main drag that you’re not hearing every tourist dragging their suitcase down the pavement at 7 AM.
The space itself is actually impressive – and I don’t say that lightly after staying in my share of London “penthouses” that turned out to be glorified attic conversions. This one feels properly luxurious without being stuffy about it. The bedroom has these massive windows that let in ridiculous amounts of light (rare for London, let’s be honest), and the living area flows nicely without feeling cramped. I spent a good hour just watching the street life below with a cup of tea – you can see all the way down toward Marble Arch if you crane your neck just right. The kitchen is well-equipped too, which matters if you’re staying more than a couple nights and get tired of paying £15 for a basic sandwich around Oxford Circus.
What really sold me on the location, though, was how walkable everything becomes once you’re actually living here instead of just visiting. Yeah, you’re steps from Selfridges and all that retail therapy, but walk five minutes toward Fitzrovia and you hit these brilliant little cafes that most tourists never find. The Goodge Street area has some proper gems – I found this tiny Italian place that does fresh pasta for half what you’d pay in Covent Garden. And honestly, being this central means you can walk to most of the major attractions instead of dealing with the Tube during rush hour, which is… well, you know how that goes. The 8.3 rating feels about right – it’s genuinely nice without being perfect. My only real complaint was the bathroom could use better lighting (very yellow and dim), and the building’s front entrance is a bit confusing to find the first time, especially if you arrive after dark. But the host was actually helpful via text when I got turned around looking for Gilbert Court – apparently everyone gets confused by the Oxford Street numbering system around there. Check-in was smooth, everything was clean, and the bed was properly comfortable, not one of those rock-hard European mattresses that leave you wondering if you’ve offended someone. If you’re looking for a legitimate taste of upscale London living without the hotel markup, and you want to be walking distance from pretty much everything that matters, this place delivers on what it promises.